The Assembly elections in Meghalaya is due next year and BJP is still positive over its progress in the Northeast.

Though the National People’s Party led by James Conrad is a constituent of BJP-led NEDA in the northeast, yet the party is of the opinion that contesting alone in the upcoming elections would benefit both the parties. (PTI)

The Assembly elections in Meghalaya is due next year and BJP is still positive over its progress in the Northeast. According to sources, the party is expected to take its final call on its strategy after it is done with an ongoing survey. Though the National People’s Party led by James Conrad is a constituent of BJP-led NEDA in the northeast, yet the party is of the opinion that contesting alone in the upcoming elections would benefit both the parties.

Nalin Kohli, BJP secretary in charge of Meghalaya said, “The BJP won no seats in the last Assembly election. But in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the BJP was first in six of the seven Assembly constituencies in Shillong.” The party is confident that going solo will win them more seats rather than contesting polls in coalition.

The BJP recently appointed Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons in an attempt to take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor against the Congress-led government. Alphons is a Catholic who has been appointed in charge of the elections in the Christians-dominated state.

Alphons headed meetings and visit with the church leaders and bishop which was aimed at allying apprehensions among the community over BJP’s ideologies, especially in the wake of beef ban controversy. In the meetings, Alphons tried to win over the confidence of the community leaders. The BJP got a boost when two Independent legislators joined the party, marking its entry into the 60-member Assembly.